G'day Fontainebleu,
looks like a nice rifle and if it is as new, there really isn't much to worry about. Merkels are very well made. The date when it was made is easy to find, it will be stamped on the barrel flats. Look for a 3 or 4 diget number that doesn't seem to match anything else. If it was made in 1980, it will end in 80. Example is if June 1980, it will read, 680. December would be 1280.
Regards,
Ron.